The organisation of the legislature: Unicameral

The definition of unicameral legislature by scholar is any form or system

organisation of legislature that only have one house or chamber.
Bangladesh, New Zealand, Finland and Denmark are such of country that
used unicameral system. This system believed on principle of law is the
will of people which people do not have two different wills on the same
times. Furthermore, the members of house in unicameral legislature are
directly elected by the people based on principles of universal adult
suffrage. There are some benefits of unicameral system such as systems
permits speedy action, works according to the will of people, less
expensive, not complicated. However , this system is not free from
demerits which can rise tendency towards arrogance, next is no scope for
second thought, lack of time, no scope for revision and unsuitable for
Federal Government.

Merits of Unicameral legislature.

A smaller legislature means an easy form of government organizational
system and this will permits a speedy action. It also will make government
easy to administer during emergency situation due to only one house
make decision among them by not involves with others chamber or any
government organization. Thus, we can conclude that this system are
more faster in aspect of decision making rather than bicameral legislature.
Second by, a unicameral legislature usually work for the will of people
since they are elected by the people. By example, in the country like USA,
Switzerland and Australia they are directly elected by the people while
other country like United Kingdom, membership of the House of Lords is
hereditary. In the most cases, the second chamber represents
conservative elements and sometimes they become stumbling blocks to
many social reforms desired by the people. So, the whole power of
making law will be only vested to the members of legislature without
citizen opinion. Furthermore, unicameral system is less expensive. It will
be expensive organization when they are involve dualism in the legislative
machinery. As result, this system most suitable for the small, unitary or
poor country like Bangladesh, New Zealand and Denmark because of not
incurred a heavy expenditure, energy and time. In additional, for the
representation of various classes and groups in legislative, the needs to
have second chambers is not necessary due to safeguard and provision
can take by the action from constitutional and independent judiciary. Last
but not least, in contrast of unicameral system, the bicameral system is
complicated and responsibility is divided. When both chambers are

equally powers, conflict will arise. In particular, if majority of the members

of the two houses are from two parties, the result may be deadlock in the
enactment of legislation. Thus, rivalry between the House of Lords and
House of Commons is the common concern.

Demerits of unicameral legislature

As unicameral only have one houses, its means a weaker power check
on the executive as there is no scope for second thought. Without the
check and balance that a second parliamentary house would provide, a
unicameral legislature often has difficulty hindering the passage of flawed
legislation, although bicameral state legislatures are not perfect, it would
be easier to correct their flaws than to change their structure. In
progressive aspect, the unicameral legislature does not provide any
opportunity for revision of bills. The single parliamentary house may pass
ill-considered bills as any emotionally situation during making any bills. It
will arise any unsatisfied opinion among the citizen which there is no
confident towards their ruler which is government. Besides, if there only
one house , then the house could may arrogant. It may push through any
law of its choice and act arbitrarily perhaps become autocratic. Thus,
supervision from other chambers significantly can avoid from any
autocratic administrative activity. Modern states like United Kingdom,
USA, Malaysia are complex societies. They require more laws of many
matter to be settled. Thus, a single house would face difficulty to discuss
for enactment of law as will took huge time and energy. So, the existence

of second chamber would reduce the burden of another chamber . Other

than that, for federal government like Malaysia, this system unsuitable as
in federation system usually people are represented in the legislature.
Because of that, there is no scope for safeguarding the interests of the
federal units if the legislature is unicameral. So, the existence of
unicameralism in federal system absolutely unsuitable for those
governments. We can conclude that both bicameralism and
unicameralism has their own advantages and disadvantages. If there was
weighed, it is favourably bicameralism with evidence from writers like
Henry Maine, Madiso, Marriot, Bryce and Lecky have recommended
bicameral legislature. The second chamber is to be well constructed with
outline for the limitation of power.